PBC, DAZN strike union, poised for long-term deal
Premier Boxing Champions will announce Thursday it is joining fellow major promotional companies by placing fights on boxing’s major streaming company, DAZN, two officials familiar with the situation told Boxing Scene Wednesday.
Confirming a Tuesday report of a temporary PBC-DAZN union by Brunch Boxing, one official said company executives want to further spell out the agreement at a news conference in Hollywood, California, and all indications are that a separate, long-term agreement will be finalized in the near future.
While the current PBC-Prime Video union nears expiration, because Prime Video distributes DAZN content, including pay-per-view fights, logic indicates PBC’s major fights on DAZN will be continue to be carried by Prime Video beyond this year.
DAZN boasts current connections with established promoters including Matchroom, Queensberry, Top Rank and Golden Boy, bringing the promise that a slew of high-profile co-promoted bouts can be made to answer the entry of well-enriched Zuffa Boxing on Paramount+.
The short-term deal with PBC already includes the joint placement on DAZN and Prime Video of upcoming PBC cards featuring the 154lbs bout between Errol Spence Jnr versus Tim Tszyu July 25 (July 26 in Australia) and the August 22 WBA welterweight title defense by champion Rolly Romero versus two-division champion Teofimo Lopez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The multi-fight union to close 2026 is also expected to include bouts in September, October and November headlined by cruiserweight/light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez, 154lbs champion Sebastian Fundora, former 140lbs champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and former undisputed junior-middleweight champion Jermell Charlo.
Some of those fighters are expected at Thursday’s news conference at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood that is being staged to promote the bout between two-division champions Romero and Lopez.
PBC, DAZN strike union, poised for long-term deal
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Re: PBC, DAZN strike union, poised for long-term deal
Strike Union
What message are you trying to send here.
U.S boxing is in the throes of a comeback.
What message are you trying to send here.
U.S boxing is in the throes of a comeback.
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Re: PBC, DAZN strike union, poised for long-term deal
PBC becomes latest boxing entity to join DAZN, shares upcoming slate
Premier Boxing Champions is the latest boxing entity to enter a partnership deal with DAZN, it was announced Thursday during a press conference in Los Angeles.
The distribution deal is set to run through the end of 2026 and discussions around an extension will be revisited later in the year, a source with direct knowledge of the partnership told The Ring.
In the meantime, the development is a significant deal for both parties.
For PBC, it widens its reach by activating engaged fans across an existing avenue and streaming service centered on boxing. It also gives the Al Haymon-led company additional revenue streams and opportunities to stage more events. PBC's deal with DAZN also complements its existing deal with Amazon’s OTT offering, Prime Video, which will continue to present PBC PPV events a la carte.
For DAZN, adding PBC to its OTT platform gives the streaming service additional fight nights and PPV programming to present to subscribers. DAZN will also look to PBC to increasingly deliver cross-promotional fights with its other leading partners in Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy and Top Rank.
The first PPV event that PBC will present as part of its official new deal with DAZN arrives later this month when Errol Spence and Tim Tszyu square off on July 26 in Australia (July 25 in the US). A second show will follow on August 22 when Rolando Romero defends his WBA welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez in Las Vegas.
DAZN's monthly subscription without PPV events costs $24.99 monthly in the United States while its Ultimate plan costs $49.99 a month and offers access to PPVs for no additional charge.
TGB Promotions boss Tom Brown, the primary promoter of PBC events, and other principals teased some of the other fights that should soon hit the calendar across September 19 and October 17.
Among them were WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora facing mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, WBA featherweight titleholder Brandon Figueroa taking on Tomoki Kameda, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesus Ramos facing mandatory Meiirim Nursultanov, and IBF bantamweight champion Jose Reyes taking on his mandatory Michael Angeletti. Formal dates and locations were not announced for the matchups.
“PBC’s agreement with DAZN is a landmark moment for boxing, particularly in the U.S., where the sport has such a passionate and deeply engaged fanbase,” Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said in a statement.
“This partnership brings one of America’s most influential boxing brands onto DAZN and strengthens our position as the premier destination for the biggest fighters, promoters and events in the sport. As the global home of boxing, DAZN is committed to expanding access, elevating the fan experience and delivering the fights that matter most to audiences in the U.S. and around the world.”
PBC initially tested the DAZN waters in May when it partnered with Golden Boy to present a PPV on DAZN and Prime Video headlined by David Benavidez's sixth-round stoppage win against Gilberto Ramirez.
PBC has been tied to Prime Video ever since Showtime Sports ceased operations at the end of 2023. But PBC has primarily staged PPV events via Prime Video, with its non-PPV event offerings for Prime Video subscribers being few and far between.
“PBC is thrilled to align with DAZN to showcase world-class boxers and events on the global home of boxing,” Tim Smith, a PBC spokesperson, said in a statement.
“Over the last decade, PBC has led the sport in major events featuring the biggest pay-per-view stars and the top champions across all weight divisions. This move represents a fantastic opportunity for the sport of boxing, and most importantly, the boxers.”
DAZN’s deal with PBC, billed as "the final piece," is the latest in a mountain of moves brokered by the streaming service.
From February onward, DAZN signed a new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing, gave free agent Top Rank a broadcast home with a multi-year deal, and reupped longtime partner Golden Boy after its previous deal with Oscar De La Hoya's promotional company had expired.
DAZN has also brought Boxxer to its lineup and expanded its reach in the United States by distributing shows once a month on cable via TNT with a new series billed as "The Fight," which debuted last week and peaked with 820,000 viewers and an average of 661,000 viewers across TNT, truTV and DAZN.
DAZN also presents live boxing events from The Ring, Queensberry, Eye of the Tiger, Salita Promotions, Misfits, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and others.
Premier Boxing Champions is the latest boxing entity to enter a partnership deal with DAZN, it was announced Thursday during a press conference in Los Angeles.
The distribution deal is set to run through the end of 2026 and discussions around an extension will be revisited later in the year, a source with direct knowledge of the partnership told The Ring.
In the meantime, the development is a significant deal for both parties.
For PBC, it widens its reach by activating engaged fans across an existing avenue and streaming service centered on boxing. It also gives the Al Haymon-led company additional revenue streams and opportunities to stage more events. PBC's deal with DAZN also complements its existing deal with Amazon’s OTT offering, Prime Video, which will continue to present PBC PPV events a la carte.
For DAZN, adding PBC to its OTT platform gives the streaming service additional fight nights and PPV programming to present to subscribers. DAZN will also look to PBC to increasingly deliver cross-promotional fights with its other leading partners in Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy and Top Rank.
The first PPV event that PBC will present as part of its official new deal with DAZN arrives later this month when Errol Spence and Tim Tszyu square off on July 26 in Australia (July 25 in the US). A second show will follow on August 22 when Rolando Romero defends his WBA welterweight title against Teofimo Lopez in Las Vegas.
DAZN's monthly subscription without PPV events costs $24.99 monthly in the United States while its Ultimate plan costs $49.99 a month and offers access to PPVs for no additional charge.
TGB Promotions boss Tom Brown, the primary promoter of PBC events, and other principals teased some of the other fights that should soon hit the calendar across September 19 and October 17.
Among them were WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora facing mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj, WBA featherweight titleholder Brandon Figueroa taking on Tomoki Kameda, WBC interim middleweight champion Jesus Ramos facing mandatory Meiirim Nursultanov, and IBF bantamweight champion Jose Reyes taking on his mandatory Michael Angeletti. Formal dates and locations were not announced for the matchups.
“PBC’s agreement with DAZN is a landmark moment for boxing, particularly in the U.S., where the sport has such a passionate and deeply engaged fanbase,” Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said in a statement.
“This partnership brings one of America’s most influential boxing brands onto DAZN and strengthens our position as the premier destination for the biggest fighters, promoters and events in the sport. As the global home of boxing, DAZN is committed to expanding access, elevating the fan experience and delivering the fights that matter most to audiences in the U.S. and around the world.”
PBC initially tested the DAZN waters in May when it partnered with Golden Boy to present a PPV on DAZN and Prime Video headlined by David Benavidez's sixth-round stoppage win against Gilberto Ramirez.
PBC has been tied to Prime Video ever since Showtime Sports ceased operations at the end of 2023. But PBC has primarily staged PPV events via Prime Video, with its non-PPV event offerings for Prime Video subscribers being few and far between.
“PBC is thrilled to align with DAZN to showcase world-class boxers and events on the global home of boxing,” Tim Smith, a PBC spokesperson, said in a statement.
“Over the last decade, PBC has led the sport in major events featuring the biggest pay-per-view stars and the top champions across all weight divisions. This move represents a fantastic opportunity for the sport of boxing, and most importantly, the boxers.”
DAZN’s deal with PBC, billed as "the final piece," is the latest in a mountain of moves brokered by the streaming service.
From February onward, DAZN signed a new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing, gave free agent Top Rank a broadcast home with a multi-year deal, and reupped longtime partner Golden Boy after its previous deal with Oscar De La Hoya's promotional company had expired.
DAZN has also brought Boxxer to its lineup and expanded its reach in the United States by distributing shows once a month on cable via TNT with a new series billed as "The Fight," which debuted last week and peaked with 820,000 viewers and an average of 661,000 viewers across TNT, truTV and DAZN.
DAZN also presents live boxing events from The Ring, Queensberry, Eye of the Tiger, Salita Promotions, Misfits, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and others.
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Re: PBC, DAZN strike union, poised for long-term deal
In 2019, Dana White said, “I can guarantee that I'll be working with Al Haymon.”, when discussing his plans to get involved with boxing.
That now seems unlikely unless Turki Alalshikh funds cross-promotional, cross-network super-fights between Zuffa-aligned fighters and those tied to DAZN’s promoters: Al Haymon’s PBC, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, Fank Warren’s Queensberry, Top Rank and Golden Boy.
Turki’s serious long-term illness could also revive the old network divide that prevented fighters from facing each other during the HBO-versus-Showtime era from the 1990s to 2018, especially if his successor is more cautious with spending.
That now seems unlikely unless Turki Alalshikh funds cross-promotional, cross-network super-fights between Zuffa-aligned fighters and those tied to DAZN’s promoters: Al Haymon’s PBC, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, Fank Warren’s Queensberry, Top Rank and Golden Boy.
Turki’s serious long-term illness could also revive the old network divide that prevented fighters from facing each other during the HBO-versus-Showtime era from the 1990s to 2018, especially if his successor is more cautious with spending.